Summer Solstice Celebration 2019: Night at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture

***EVENT UPDATE***

Summer Solstice will be held outdoors. Rain is expected to end before the celebration begins. The grass may still be damp; consider bringing a blanket to sit on.

Free Special Event Open to the Public

On the longest day of the year, explore the world and have fun at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture's Summer Solstice Celebration. From 5:00–9:00 pm, enjoy free admission to four museums: the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, and the Harvard Semitic Museum.

Start off with a visit to our new and permanent exhibitions:

• Admire Harvard’s internationally acclaimed “Glass Flowers." This stunning collection of hand-crafted plant models was created by Czech glass artisans Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka.
• Learn how scientific instruments have influenced the development of astronomy, navigation, physics, biology, medicine, electricity, and communication in Time, Life & Matter.
• Explore more than 600 objects from Asia, Oceania, and the Americas in All the World Is Here: Harvard’s Peabody Museum and the Invention of American Anthropology.
• Discover how ancient Near Eastern kings commemorated their military triumphs and civic achievements in From Stone to Silicone: Recasting Mesopotamian Monuments.

Then step outdoors for a host of fun activities:

• Make a summer crown with fresh flowers and greens to wear during the event.
• Marvel at circus performers.
• Enjoy tasty treats from the event food trucks.
• Enter the Solstice Raffle to win HMSC museum memberships and special gifts from our museum shop.

Join us for this festive community evening! In case of rain, the event will move inside the museums.

Free event parking will be available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Please note that Divinity Avenue will be closed to traffic during the event.

The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture are an 8-minute walk through historic Harvard Yard from the Harvard Square MBTA Red Line station.

Activities Time: 5:00–7:30 pm Location: 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Activities are appropriate for all ages. In case of rain, activities will take place indoors (check printed schedules at museums for final locations).

Flower Crowns
Design your own summer crown with seasonal flowers, garden greens, and ribbons (while supplies last).

Animal Craze Traveling Farm Meet and greet a few furry farm animals visiting the museums to celebrate the beginning of summer.   Meet the Egyptian Hippo Goddess Use augmented reality to “take” an Egyptian goddess out of the case and expand her into a statue you can walk around.   Fire Jumping Some cultures mark the start of a new solar cycle by crossing over cleansing fire. Take part in this tradition by jumping over the museums’ “bonfire” and earn a flame tattoo.   Performances Time: 5:00–8:24 pm (sunset)
Location: 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts

5:00 pm until sunset

Stilt walkers, jugglers, and acrobats will be roving throughout the event.

5:15–6:00 pm

Circus Arts Feature Show In this annual tradition at the Summer Solstice Celebration, artists from Off the Ground Circus Arts will stage a daring performance of circus arts and acrobatics.   6:15–6:45 pm
REVMA
Dance to the rhythms of traditional Greek melodies from the Aegean, Dodekanese, and Ionian islands, powerful odd-metered Macedonian and Thracian rhythms, and the delicate modal tones of urban Smyrnaika. REVMA brings to life the life-embracing passion and wit of Greek culture shaped by a history of struggle, war, migration, and resilience.  

7:00-7:30 pm

Flamenco Boston Flamenco is an eclectic art form from southern Spain that draws on the influences of Andalusians, Moors, Sephardic Jews, Indians, and Gypsies. Experience the intricate guitar playing, passionate singing, and dynamic footwork characteristic of flamenco with Flamenco Boston.  

7:45-8:20 pm

Ulster Landing Enjoy folk music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Cornwall! Ulster Landing is a Boston-based band of fiddle, harp, bouzouki, and uilleann (Irish) pipes. The group’s name was inspired by the Irish province of Ulster and the musicians honor the variety of musical styles found across the diverse Celtic nations.   8:20–8:24 pm Solstice Countdown Count down the minutes to the end of the longest day of the year!   Food Trucks Time: 5:00 pm until sunset Location: 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts  

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream

Bon Me pan-Asian delights

Tenoch Mexican tortas

Zaaki Mediterranean cuisine